Chemistry of Aerosols over Chukchi Sea and Bering Sea

The contents of elements in aerosols sampled during the First Chinese Arctic Research Expedition (CHINARE-1) show great differences from one element to another. Na, K, Ca, Mg, Al, F, and Cl are the major components in the aerosols, whose contents are larger than 30 ng/m+3. The chemical elements whose contents vary between {0.1}-30 ng/m+3 are Br, Sr, Cr, Ni, and Zn. The chemical elements whose contents are close to or slightly higher than {0.1} ng/m+3 are Rb, Ba, Zr, Th, and Pb. The contents of As, Sb, W, Mo, Au, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb, Lu, Sc, Co, Hf, Ta, and Cd are less than {0.1} ng/m+3. The mass concentration data for the same element, as observed during CHINARE-1, are almost accordant, but much lower than what is observed in the China’s seas or the coasts of China. The enrichment factor and electron microscopic analyses and lead isotope tracing were used to distinguish their sources. Four groups of sources can be classified as follows: anthropogenic: As, Sb, W, F, Mo, Au, Cu, Pb, Cd, V; crustal: La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb, Lu, Fe, Sc, Cr, Co, Ba, Zr, Hf, Ta, Cs, Mn, Th, U; oceanic:Na, K, Ca, and Mg; and mixing: Rb, Sr, Ca, and Mg.